Editor’s note: looks like GM has changed its mind about removing the LT trim from the 2025 Chevy Colorado, with a new Colorado LT on the way.
The 2025 Chevy Colorado debuts the third model year for the midsize pickup’s third generation, showing off a long list of updates and changes, from new paint colors, to deletion of the base-level L2R engine, to more standard features. Interestingly, the 2025 Chevy Colorado also shakes up the trim level lineup with deletion of the LT trim level, which previously slotted between the entry-level WT and mid-range Trail Boss in the 2024 Chevy Colorado lineup. Indeed, deletion of the LT trim with the launch of the 2025 Colorado may point to a broader philosophical change at General Motors.
As highlighted in sixth episode of the Chevy Society podcast (embedded above), the LT trim has been a core offering in Chevrolet’s lineup across multiple models, making its deletion from the 2025 Colorado lineup particularly noteworthy. It also bears mentioning that although the LT is no longer a standalone trim, the 2025 Chevy Colorado still offers the LT as an appearance and convenience package for the entry-level WT trim.
Taking a step back, the deletion of the LT trim aligns with General Motors’ “Winning with Simplicity” strategy, which aims to streamline the automaker’s product offerings via lower design and engineering expenses, reduced supplier costs, simplified order complexity, and fewer buildable combinations. The new strategy is expected to save GM around $200 million in 2024 alone.
Nevertheless, deletion of the LT trim from the Chevy Colorado lineup could be seen as somewhat unusual, given the LT trim has long been a staple of the Chevrolet brand, from small models like the Trax, to larger models like the Suburban, and even high-performance models like the Corvette Stingray.
As the podcast hosts point out, the LT trim has long been the “bread and butter” of the Chevrolet lineup. In one sense, LT has been at the core of many Chevy vehicles, similar to how the Chevrolet brand itself is core to GM as a whole. Nevertheless, the LT has always been a little “lost” when it comes to the current-generation Colorado, never really standing out among more prominent trims like the entry-level WT or highly capable ZR2, both of which have very clear roles in the Colorado trim level cadence.
The broader takeaway seems to be this – GM and Chevrolet aren’t afraid to shake up their traditional offerings, even if it means departing from established trims like the LT.
“Does this show that there are no ‘sacred cows’ for GM or Chevrolet?” asks GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft during the Chevy Society podcast.
Indeed, this willingness to adapt, driven by hard business decisions, demonstrates GM’s focus on modernizing its lineup, regardless of legacy or tradition. As the hosts conclude, significant changes like deletion of the LT trim seem to signal a broader transformation at General Motors as a whole.
As a reminder, the Chevy Colorado cradles the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine as standard, while the updated 31XX-2 platform provides the underpinnings. Production takes place at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri.
Comments
It’s NOT a philosophical change. It’s just that they’ve gotten away with gouging for 4 years, there’s no incentive to stop. Until either the economy collapses or buyers get new brains.
They didn’t kill the base model, ya bum. I like how you feel the need to take a big fat deuce on every article with misguided, angry rants.
These are very good observations Alex. I agree that LT is the glue that holds it all together at Chevrolet and the LT trim on the current Colorado never really found its identity beyond a better equipped WT. I would also argue that Z71 never found its way either.
Keep up the great work!
Yep, in my area Ive seen maybe 2 LTs. I mainly see ZR2’s, Trail Bosses, and WT’s (fleet sales to city governments, and businesses). I’ve also only seen a couple of Z71s. With the Trail Boss being an actual model trim instead of an optional package, it made the LT redundant. Then there is the issue of dealer pricing and option selection for their LTs. They either option them so poorly that you might as well get a WT for a few grand less, or they option them with everything where you might as well get a Z71 or a ZR2. I’ve seen LTs at 47 to 54k. Why would anyone get that over a Z71 or a ZR2.
But then that leads to the next problem. People wanting to get the flagship of a model because its the “best” if they can afford it. Why get a Z71 when you can get a ZR2 at basically the same price? The ZR2 is a cooler truck even though it’s less capable at doing truck things. It looks cool and great off-road.
The zr2 gets significantly worse fuel economy, and offers a bunch of stuff some people will never use, while also being aggressively styled in a way some people aren’t going to be into for a daily driver. Add in the expense of dssv shocks which commonly fail, and I can see a good reason a lot of people would go for a nice clean z71 over a zr2 even at a similar price point.
Is this really a change? The article makes it sound like they’re just turning the LT trim level into a package. Does that actually simplify anything with building or suppliers? They would still need to get all the same pieces if someone adds the LT package to their WT trim.
Seems to be a change solely on paper. I wouldn’t be surprised if the package costs slightly more than the increase to LT trim used to be.
The change runs deeper than just that.
There will be no such thing as a 2025 Chevy Colorado LT. What you’ll have is a Colorado WT with a package. There will also be no more LT badge on the Colorado starting with the 2025 MY.
But these are all small changes. It’s difficult (if not downright strange) to imagine a Chevy product with no LT trim. So is it “really a change?” I’d say that it is.
I am not sure who your source is, but this simply isn’t true. Go look at the gmfleetorderguide.com. The LT is listed for MY25.
I get what you’re saying in the fact there is no LT trim. But I remember when you bought a Chevy and chose between LS or LT so trims change over time. It’s not like the current letter soup will stay the same forever. Was it as shocking when LS disappeared or when LT became a bottom half level?
I feel like you’re making my point that this is not a change though. At the end of the day you can get the same exact truck with the same options, it will just have 2, maybe 3 tiny badges on the exterior removed or changed from LT to WT. Am I missing something else other than the emotional trim lineup deletion?
Well more like the focus is on massive profit making blacked out off road looking variants and taking away the down to earth every day trim levels that don’t make them as much money. Nothing more nothing less
There’s not enough to differentiate the LT on the Colorado from the other trims, unlike most of the Chevy lineup. LT has always been a good grab bag of features/options and I hope it remains so. The flexibility of having a more features, but base LT; or, a highly-optioned LT that was essentially an LTZ, just usually without some of the higher tech features.
On the Colorado though you still get the same infotainment, screen, can’t option leather until the Z71, limited additional trim/exterior upgrades, exact same engine, etc. They just needed to do a better job of making it different. Leather as an option would have gone a long way.
Whereas on my 2024 Chevy 2500, I could highly-option an LT to get the upgraded infotainment, leather, bucket seats, sunroof, etc.
I have doubts that GM will ever bring it back, but I would like to see a WT Standard Cab.
Most ironic that the LT trim debuted as a “luxury touring” version of the 1973 Chevrolet Camaro…not unlike what Ford did when the Galaxie 500/XL debuted as the top-line 1962 Ford. By the 1980s, it too became the lowest trim level…on Ford pickup trucks. (I guess though you don’t make as much on the bread-and-butter models as you do the fancy-pants versions.)
If the dealers doesn’t order it, can’t sell it. Dealers get stuck on certain exterior colors and with you guessed it a black interior! I guess that’s why I like the C8, the color choices inside and out are numerous! I sure hope the Colorado has better color choices for 2025.
The LT trim in the 2024 Colorado has seats that I like (black Evotex) which I prefer over the half cloth and Evotex seats in the Z71. I own a 2016 Colorado and that was the reason why I went with the LT trim over the Z71 that model year. I recently drove a 2024 LT trim Colorado and I liked everything about it but was disappointed they only put a single speed transfer case in it. It had the black Evotex seats and they were really nice but if I were to trade mine in I’d seriously consider a Z71 because it has 4LO. Makes no sense why they just don’t make 4LO standard. That would simplify production.
I was seriously considering a Colorado earlier this year (wound up with a Silverado LT instead). The LT trim just didn’t make sense. it didn’t offer a nicer interior or significantly nicer exterior over a trailboss, but it did miss out on all the off-road goodies of the trailboss, and still cost more money. If you wanted a nicer interior, you stepped up to the z71 and got some of the off-road goodies along with it.